A record number of Americans are expected to travel by car this Memorial Day weekend and airports could be busier than they have been since 2005, according to a forecast released Monday by AAA.
The auto club expects 43.8 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home over the holiday weekend, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. That's a 4 percent increase from the same period last year and within striking distance of the 2005 record of 44 million Memorial Day weekend travelers.
“We haven't seen these kinds of travel numbers over Memorial Day weekend in almost two decades,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President of AAA Travel. “We expect an additional million travelers this holiday weekend compared to 2019, which not only means we are exceeding pre-pandemic levels but also signals that a very busy summer season is ahead.”
The number of road travelers is expected to reach a record 38.4 million, the highest number since AAA began tracking in 2000. While gas prices are similar to last year at about $3.57 per gallon, AAA warned that “prices could run higher,” with fluctuating oil prices being a major factor. 'wild card' and wars in the Middle East and Ukraine could potentially put pressure on oil markets.
Another 3.5 million people are expected to fly, making this the busiest Memorial Day weekend in nearly two decades. In 2005, a record 3.6 million travelers flew over Memorial Day weekend as the travel industry recovered from the September 11 terrorist attack.
Demand for other modes of transportation, including buses, trains and cruises, is also recovering from the pandemic's toll. An estimated 1.9 million people are expected to use one of these other modes of transportation, an increase of 5.6 percent from a year ago.
“This category took the biggest hit during the pandemic, with fewer people taking public transport or not cruising at all,” Twidale said. “Now – five years later – we are back to 2019 figures. Demand for travel has skyrocketed and long holiday weekends provide the perfect opportunity for getaways.”
